Charity Fails To Fulfill Bequest Several Years After Donation

In the months before a beloved pediatrician died, she chose two charities to include in her will.  Yet, six years later, one of the charities—the Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC)—is mired in financial trouble and legal battles that could jeopardize the sizable donation Dr. Chrystal Kleiman made to the charity. 

Only $134,000 of the $707,000 Dr. Kleiman bequeathed to the Victoria based TLC has made its way to the Galiano Conservancy Associations $4 million Galiano Learning Centre.  In her will, Dr. Kleiman asked that her children work with TLC to identify a property that had a unique ecosystem. 

TLC took $106,050 from Kleiman’s bequeathment as an “administrative” fee, then in Dec. 2010 wrote a promissory note to the Galiano project for $600,000. Since that time, TLC has only paid the Galiano project $134,000.

Although TLC said the wishes of Dr. Kleiman have been honored, her children think otherwise.  Dr. Kleiman’s two children say they are not happy that a large portion of the money their mother gave to the charity is unaccounted for.  “She had a very specific wish.  It’s so sad, for my mom, and for the others who are being affected [by TLC’s financial troubles].” 

TLC is currently undergoing restructuring under CCAA rules in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy.  TLC will present its “plan of arrangement” to the creditors before being sent to the courts for approval.

See Susan Lazaruk, B.C. Family’s Trust Broken As Charity Bequest Still Unfulfilled Several Years After Donation, The Province, Jan. 5, 2014.